A SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING DOCUMENTS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for dispensing documents, and has particular application to a system for dispensing currency bills.

[0002] A currency dispenser for automatically dispensing a required amount of money as desired by a customer-operator of the machine is well known in the art. However, the reliability of a currency dispenser is of extreme importance, particularly when the currency dispenser is not supervised in any direct manner. For example, considerable inconvenience may be caused to customers if, upon the entry of authorized customer requests, the machine fails to operate because the dispenser malfunctions or is out of cash.

[0003] In U.S. Patent No. 4282424 there is disclosed an automatic currency dispensing system in which a plurality of currency dispensing consoles are arranged on a service counter, with an electrical control section for common use being disposed under the service counter. With this system a customer can use any one of the currency dispensing consoles. However, inconvenience will still be caused to a customer if, upon entry of an authorized customer request into a selected console, the console does not operate because the respective dispenser fails to dispense currency bills for any reason.

[0004] From IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin 1973, pages 906 to 911, there is known a document stacking system including first and second hoppers for sequentially dispensing documents therefrom, and a plurality of stackers for receiving documents from the hoppers, the stackers including first and second common stackers which receive documents from both the hoppers. The system includes first diverter means settable in operation to a first position in which it guides documents dispensed by the first hopper to the first common stacker or to a second position in which it diverts documents from the first hopper to the second common stacker, and second diverter means settable in operation to a first position in which it guides documents dispensed by the second hopper to the second common stacker or to a second position in which it diverts documents from the second hopper to the first common stacker. The system disclosed in this document may be used for sorting documents, and it is not concerned with the problem of avoiding inconvenience when a selected document dispenser fails to dispense documents because of a malfunction or because it is exhausted of documents.

[0005] From US-A-4265440 there is known a paper feeding system for use in an electrophotographic copying machine, the system supplying copying paper from one of two paper cassettes to an image transfer station. The mode of operation of this known system is such that when a selected cassette is out of paper the other cassette takes over the supply of paper to the image transfer station, provided that the two cassettes hold the same size of paper. There is no indication in this patent as to how the paper feeding system could be used to supply paper to two processing stations.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for dispensing documents, such as currency bills, in which the type of customer inconvenience referred to above is largely overcome.

[0007] According to the invention there is provided a document dispensing system including first and second dispensing means for sequentially dispensing documents therefrom, first and second output stations, transport means for conveying documents from said first dispensing means into a first path to said first output station and documents from said second dispensing means into a second path to said second output station, first diverter means selectively settable in operation to a first position in which it guides documents dispensed by said first dispensing means to said first output station or to a second position in which it diverts documents in said first path to said second output station, and second diverter means selectively settable in operation to a first position in which it guides documents dispensed by said second dispensing means to said second output station or to a second position in which it diverts documents in said second path to said first output station, characterized in that said first dispensing means is responsive to a first signal for either sequentially dispensing documents thereform or for generating a second signal when no documents are being dispensed therefrom, said second dispensing means is responsive to a third signal for either sequentially dispensing documents therefrom or for generating a fourth signal when no documents are being dispensed therefrom, said first diverter means is arranged to be set to its said second position in response to a fifth signal, and said second diverter means is arranged to be set to its said second position in response to a sixth signal, and further characterized by control means responsive to a said second signal for producing said third and sixth signals and responsive to a said fourth signal for producing said first and fifth signals.

[0008] It will be appreciated that a system in accordance with the present invention can be used to minimize the down time of an automatic teller machine (ATM) by sharing the currency dispensers of adjacent ATMs. Such sharing can be arranged to occur automatically when one currency dispenser is either out of service because of a ' malfunction or is out of currency.

[0009] One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a side view of a currency dispensing system ;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 illustrates the various possible currency paths, depending upon the positions of the flippers 15, and 15₂ of the system shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit which may be used with the currency dispensing system ;

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of sensing and control elements in one of the dispensers shown in Fig. 1 ; and

Figs. 6-14 illustrate a flow diagram giving the steps in the operation of the dispensing system when a customer requests currency from one of two dispensers in the system and that requested dispenser is inoperative or out of currency.

[0010] Referring now the drawings, Fig. 1 discloses a schematic diagram of a side view of a fail safe currency dispensing system. Although the invention will now be described in relation to a fail safe currency dispensing system for adjacent ATMs, it should be relized that the invention could be utilized more broadly in any other system for dispensing any other type of document.

[0011] The system shown in Fig. 1 includes first and second ATM units or machines 11₁ and 11₂, respectively, and a common transport mechanism 12 operationally coupled between the ATM units 11₁ and 11₂.

[0012] ATM unit 11₁ includes a dispenser 13, for dispensing currency or bills of a first denomination, a diverter (or flipper) 15₁ rotatable to either a clockwise (CW) or a counterclockwise (CCW) position, a diverter position sensor 17₁, an output sensor 19, and an output station 21₁. The output station 21₁ normally can include: an output receptacle 23₁ which may be comprised of a stacker wheel 25, and a presenter plate 27₁, a numeric keyboard 29, (Fig. 4), a card reader (not shown) and a display (not shown).

[0013] The diverter 15, is affixed to a shaft 31, which is rotatably supported within a protective cabinet 32. One end of a link 33, is fixed to the shaft 31₁. The other end of link 33, is pivotally joined to operating plunger 35, of a solenoid 37₁. One end of a spring 39, is operatively connected to the other end of link 33, as shown, while the other end of spring 39, is connected to a fixed point 41₁ so as to enable the diverter 15₁ to channel a bill 42, that is dispensed from dispenser 13₁, into a first path through the transport mechanism 12, into the stacker wheel 25₁ whenever the solenoid 37₁ is deenergized.

[0014] Similarly, the ATM unit 11₂ includes elements 13₂, 15₂, 17₂, 19₂, 21₂, 23₂, 25₂, 27₂, 29₂ (Fig. 4), 31₂, 33₂ (Fig. 2), 35₂ (Fig. 2), 37₂ (Fig. 2), 39₂ (Fig. 2), 41₂ (Fig. 2) and a card reader (not shown) and a display (not shown) which are respectively similar in structure and operation to the corresponding elements in ATM 11₁, which elements in ATM 11₁ (when shown) have the same integers as those in ATM 11₂ but with a subscript of 1 instead of 2.

[0015] The transport mechanism 12 is comprised of drive rollers 50-59, follower rollers 60-73, a transport drive motor 75 and pulley and gear train assembly 77.

[0016] Rollers 50-73 may be made from rubber or a non-marking black Neoprene material. The drive rollers 50-59 are driven by the shaft (not shown) of the transport drive motor 75 by way of the pulley and gear train assembly 77. The follower rollers 60-73 are positioned adjacent to the drive rollers 50-59 and are driven through compression contact with the drive rollers. Each of the drive rollers 50-59 rotates only in the direction of its associated arrow. As a result, each of the rollers 50-73 rotates only in one direction.

[0017] Depending on the velocity of the bills 42 being dispensed from either of the dispensers 13₁ and 13₂, the sizes of the pulleys (not shown) in the assembly 77 are such as to get the same surface velocity for the drive rollers 50-59 as that of the bills 42 being dispensed from one of the dispensers. Thus, the gear ratios in the pulley and gear train assembly 77 are preselected to get the same surface velocity or speed for each of the drive rollers 50-59 and, hence, for all of the rollers 50-73.

[0018] Bills 42 move edgewise from the dispensers 13₁ and 13₂ into and through the associated ones of the rollers 50-73. For ease of passing bills 42 edgewise through these rollers, successive nips of the roller pairs are positioned close together. To accomplish this purpose, two different diameters of drive rollers 50-59 are utilized, with the smaller diameter drive rollers 50, 53, 54, 57 and 58 having the higher RPM to get the same surface velocity or speed as the larger diameter drive rollers 51, 52, 55, 56 and 59.

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the operation of portions of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 will now also be discussed. Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the cut line 2-2 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the drive and follower rollers 50-73 shown in Fig. 1 represents an exemplary line of coaxially-aligned rollers, designated in Fig. 2 by the corresponding integer but with the subscripts A, B, C and D. Each line of drive and follower rollers 50-73 is spaced across the length of a bill 42 as the bill is passed therethrough.

[0020] Each line of rollers 50-73 is appropriately mounted on an associated common shaft by clips 79 to prevent side movement on the associated shaft. In addition, each line of drive and follower rollers 50-73 has each end of its associated shaft coupled through bearings mounted in vertical frame members 81 and 83 of protective cabinet 32 (Fig. 1). Furthermore, each line of drive rollers 50-59 has the end of its associated drive shaft that passes through frame member 83 also coupled to the pulley and gear train assembly 77.

[0021] The diverter 15₂ is comprised of an exemplary line of eight thin, flat flipper blades 15₂A-15_2H affixed or pinned to a common shaft 31₂ which is rotatably supported by bearings in the frame members 81 and 83. Similarly, the diverter 15, is comprised of an exemplary line of eight thin, flat flipper blades affixed to the shaft 31,. As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of flipper blades is mounted on each side of each roller in a roller line, such as 71 or 65 (or 64 as indicated in Fig. 1).

[0022] One end of a link 33₂ is fixed to the shaft 31₂, while the other end of the link 33₂ is pivotally joined to the operating plunger 35₂ of solenoid 37₂. One end of spring 39₂ is operatively connected to the other end of link 33₂, while the other end of spring 39₂ is connected to the fixed point 41₂ to enable the diverter 15₂ to channel a bill from dispenser 13₂ into a second path through the transport mechanism 12, into the stacker wheel 25₂, whenever the solenoid 37₂ is deenergized.

[0023] Stacker wheel 25₂ is comprised of an exemplary line of three wheels 25_2A, 25_2B and 25_2c. These wheels are affixed to a common shaft (not shown in Fig. 2) which is rotatably supported by bearings (not shown) in the frame members 81 and 83. This shaft of stacker wheel 25₂ is also coupled to appropriately selected gears (not shown) in the assembly 77 to cause the stacker wheel 25₂ to be rotated at the desired velocity. Similarly, stacker wheel 25₁ is comprised exemplary line of three wheels affixed to the shaft 31₁.

[0024] Dispensed bills are collected in respective slots in each of the wheels 25₂A-25_2c of the stacker wheel 25₂ (or 26₁), such as shown by slot 85 (Fig. 1). In this manner bills 42 are collected in respective slots 85 of the stacker wheel 25₂. As the stacker wheel 25₂ rotates in the direction shown by the associated arrow; bills are directed into the presenter plate 27₂ to accumulate there in a stack 87 of bills 42. Another conveyor (not shown) could be utilized to convey the accumulated stack 87 to some other destination. It should, of course, be realized that the output receptacle 23₂ can be comprised of, for example, simply a box or container to sequentially receive the bills 42, rather than a stacker wheel 25₂ and presenter plate 27₂. The stacker wheel 25, operates in the same manner as the stacker wheel 25₂.

[0025] The various possible currency paths through the transport mechanism 12 are shown in Fig. 3. These paths depend upon the relative positions (CW or CCW) of the diverters 15, and 15₂.

[0026] In normal operation, both of the solenoids 37, (Fig. 1) and 37₂ (Fig. 2) are deenergized. When solenoid 37₁ is deenergized, diverter 15, is in its normal or CCW position, as shown by the dashed outline 87. Similarly, when solenoid 37₂ is deenergized, diverter 15₂ is in its normal or CW position, as shown by the solid outline 89. Fig. 1 shows the diverters 15₁ and 15₂ in their normal positions for normal operation.

[0027] As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, during normal operation dispenser 13₁ can sequentially feed bills 42 between rollers 50 and 60, between rollers 51 and 60, along a straight edge 91 of diverter 15₁, between rollers 52 and 61, between rollers 52 and 62 and between rollers 53 and 63 to the output receptacle 23₁. In a similar manner, during normal operation dispenser 13₂ can sequentially feed bills 42 between rollers 55 and 64, along a curved edge 93 of diverter 15₂, between rollers 55 and 65, between rollers 56 and 66, between rollers 56 and 67 and between rollers 57 and 68 to output receptacle 23₂.

[0028] When a customer requests currency from ATM 11, and dispenser 13, is either inoperative or out of currency, solenoid 37₁ (Fig. 1) remains deenergized and solenoid 37₂ (Fig.2) is energized to pull diverter 15₂ to its CCW position, as shown by the dashed outline 95. Bills 42 are then sequentially fed from the dispenser 13₂ in ATM 11₂, between rollers 55 and 64, along a straight edge 97 of diverter 15₂, between rollers 58 and 71, between rollers 59 and 72, between rollers 59 and 73, between rollers 51 and 60, along the straight edge 91 of diverter 15₁, between rollers 52 and 61, between rollers 52 and 62 and between rollers 53 and 63 to the output receptacle 23, of resquested ATM 11₁. Thus, dispenser 13₂ in ATM 11₂ can alternately supply bills, when requested, to both the output receptacle 23, of ATM 11₁ and the output receptacle 23₂ of ATM 11₂ whenever dispenser 13₁ is inoperative or out of bills. When dispenser 13, is repaired or restocked with bills 42 and placed back in operation, normal operation is resumed with both of the solenoids 37₁ (Fig. 1) and 37₂ (Fig. 2) being deenergized.

[0029] Similarly, when a customer requests currency from ATM 11₂ and dispenser 13₂ is either inoperative or out of bills, solenoid 37₂ (Fig. 2) is deenergized and solenoid 37₁ (Fig. 1) is energized to pull diverter 15₁ to its CW position, as shown by the solid outline 97. Bills 42 are then sequentially fed from the dispenser 13, in ATM 11₁, between rollers 50 and 60, between rollers 51 and 60, along a curved edge 99 of diverter 15₁, between rollers 51 and 69, between rollers 54 and 70, between rollers 56 and 67 and between rollers 57 and 68 to the output receptacle 23₂ of requested ATM 11₂. Thus, dispenser 13₁ in ATM 11₁ can alternately supply bills, when requested, to both the output receptacle 23₂ of ATM 11 and the output receptacle 23₁ of ATM 11₁ whenever dispenser 13₂ is inoperative or out of bills. When dispenser 13₂ is repaired or restocked with bills 42 and placed back in operation, normal operation is resumed with both of the solenoids 37₁ (Fig. 1) and 37₂ (Fig. 2) being deenergized.

[0030] The distance between successive nips of roller pairs in the above-discussed dispensing paths through the transport mechanism is less than the minimum width of the bill 42 being dispensed.

[0031] It should be noted at this time that paper guides (not shown) may be selectively positioned among the assembly of rollers 50-73 to help guide the bills 42 in a dispensing path into and from the nips between associated roller pairs.

[0032] Referring now to Fig. 4, a schematic block diagram is illustrated of a control circuit which may be used to control the dispensing operations of components of Fig. 1.

[0033] Information signals from flipper position sensors 17₁ and 17₂ and output sensors 19₁ and 19₂ are respectively applied through buffer/drivers 101₁, 101₂, 103₁, and 103₂ to a peripheral interface adapter (PIA) 105 to a microprocessor 107.

[0034] It should be noted at this time that each of the sensors 17₁, 17₂, 19₁ and 19₂ can include a light emitting diode (LED) and a photosensor (not shown) oppositely positioned across a preselected portion of one of the dispensing paths. The passage of a bill 42 or one of the diverters 15, and 15₂ between a LED and its associated photosensor interrupts the light path therebetween, causing the photosensor to develop and apply a signal to the microprocessor 107 to indicate the obstruction across the associated dispensing path. In this manner, each of the output sensors 19, and 19₂ would generate a signal each time that a bill is outputted from the transport mechanism 12 past that sensor. Similarly, each of the diverter sensors 17, and 17₂ would generate a signal to indicate to the microprocessor 107 the position of the associated one of the diverter 15, and 15₂. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, both of the diverters are in their normal positions, each blocking the light path between the LED and photosensor in its associated one of the diverter sensors 17, and 17₂. When diverter solenoid 37₁ (37₂) is energized, diverter 15₁ (15₂) moves to its CW (CCW) position, unblocking the light path between the LED and photosensor in diverter sensor 17₁ (17₂).

[0035] In the extraction of currency, each of the ATM units 11₁ and 11₂ requires a customer to insert his ATM credit card into the ATM unit. This credit card contains account information written on a magnetic stripe. The customer next enters into the selected one of the numeric keyboards 29, and 29₂ his personal ATM identification number which corresponds in a predetermined manner to the account information on his ATM credit card. Then the customer enters into the selected keyboard his requested currency amount.

[0036] Information signals from keyboards 29₁ and 29₂ are applied through respective associated buffer/driver circuits (not shown) to the microprocessor 107 by way of the PIA 105.

[0037] Upon receiving a request for currency, the microprocessor 107 starts extracting and executing a software program from a program read only memory (ROM) 109, using a random access memory (RAM) 111 to store temporary data in temporary memory locations. In the execution of the program from the ROM 109, the microprocessor basically performs the following operations.

[0038] In response to a request for currency from one of the keyboards 29, and 29₂, the microprocessor 107 first checks to see if the dispenser (13₁ or 13₂) associated with the requesting one of the output stations 21, and 21₂ (Fig. 1) is not inoperative and not out of bills. If the associated dispenser was inoperative or out of bills the last time it was used, it would send signals to indicate that condition to the microprocessor 107 via an associated PIA. As shown in Fig. 4, the dispensers 13, and 13₂ are coupled to the microprocessor 107 by way of PIAs 113₁ and 113₂, respectively. If the associated dispenser is not inoperative and not out of bills, the microprocessor 107 then checks the diverter position sensors 17, and 17₂. The diverter position sensors 17₁ and 17₂ respectively send to the microprocessor 107 signals indicative of the positions of the diverters 15₁ and 15₂.

[0039] The microprocessor 107 will not enable one of the dispensers 13, and 13₂ to dispense bills until the diverters 15, and 15₂ are in the proper positions to transport the bills to the requesting one of the output stations 21₁ and 21₂. If the sensors 17, and 17₂ indicate that one or both of the associated diverters 15, and 15₂ are not in the proper positions to transport currency to the desired one of the output receptacles 23₁ and 23₂, the microprocessor 107 will selectively supply signals by way of PIA 105 to power drivers 115₁ and 115₂ to cause diverter solenoids 37₁ and 37₂ to respectively position the diverters 15, and 15₂ so that currency can be subsequently dispensed to the proper receptacle. Such positioning of the diverters 15₁ and 15₂ under various operating conditions has been previously discussed in relation to Figs. 1-3.

[0040] After the diverters 15₁ and 15₂ have been correctly positioned in response to a keyboard request for currency, the microprocessor 107 then applies an energizing signal by way of power driver 117 to energize an AC relay 119. Upon being energized, relay 119 applies an AC voltage to the transport drive motor 75 which, in turn, starts driving the drive rollers 50-59 (Fig. 1) by way of the pulley and gear train assembly 77. Finally, after the drive rollers 50-59 have reached the proper surface speed, the microprocessor 107 sends an enabling signal to the associated one of the dispensers via its associated PIA to enable that dispenser to start sequentially dispensing bills to the proper one of the output receptacles 23₁ and 23₂.

[0041] Each bill from the dispensing dispenser passes through the transport mechanism 12 and past the associated one of the output sensors 19₁ and 19₂ before it goes to the output receptacle of the requesting output station. The associated output sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor 107 each time that a dispensed bill passes that output sensor. In this manner the microprocessor 107 keeps track of how many bills have been dispensed and knows when the associated dispenser has finished dispensing the amount of bills requested by a customer. When the requested amount of bills has been dispensed, the microprocessor 107 sends a disabling signal to the associated dispenser to stop that dispenser from dispensing any more bills of that denomination.

[0042] It should be noted at this time that each of the dispensers 13₁ and 13₂ can store bills of one denomination, such as twenty dollar bills in U.S. currency, in a first internal bill hopper (not shown) and bills of another denomination, such as five dollar bills in U.S. currency, in a second internal bill hopper (not shown). Such a dispenser is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,179,031.

[0043] When the dispensers 13₁ and 13₂ are each implemented to contain two different internal bill hoppers, as described in US-A-4.179.031. the microprocessor 107 can enable the associated dispenser to dispense bills of a second denomination. The dispensing operation for the second denomination of bill would be the same as that previously discussed for the first denomination of bill and, hence, need not be further discussed. However, whenever two-denomination bill dispensers are used in the invention, different dispensing paths through the transport mechanism 12 would be utilized. Such dispensing paths from the dispensers 13₁ and 13₂, while not shown, are similar to the dispensing paths previously discussed. For these additional dispensing paths the system would require additional structure respectively similar to the transport mechanism 12, diverters 15₁ and 15₂, solenoids 37₁ and 37₂, sensors 17₁, 17₂, 19, and 19₂, buffer drivers 101₁, 101₂, 103₁ and 103₂, power drivers 115_i and 115₂ and PIA 105.

[0044] After the associated dispenser has finished dispensing the correct amount of requested bills and is disabled by the microprocessor 107, the microprocessor 107 turns off the transport drive motor 75 to terminate the dispensing operation.

[0045] Structurally, each of the buffer/drivers 101₁, 101₂, 103, and 103₂ can be implemented by means of a Fairchild Semiconductor 7407 Hex Buffer/Driver; each of the power drivers 115₁, 115₂ and 117 can be implemented by means of a Motorola MC 1413 High Current Darlington Driver ; each of the PIAs 105, 113_i and 113₂ can be implemented by means of a Motorola 6821 PIA ; microprocessor 107 can be an Intel 8085 AH microprocessor; ROM 109 can be an Intel 2716 EPROM ; and RAM 111 can be a Motorola 4116 B RAM.

[0046] Referring now to .Fig. 5, a brief description will now be given of some of the sensing and control elements contained in each of the dispensers 13₁ and 13₂ of Fig. 1. Since the structure and operation of each of the dispensers 13, and 13₂ are similar, only one dispenser will be discussed.

[0047] Essentially, a dispenser is comprised of a pick solenoid 121, a reject flipper and solenoid 122, a dispenser drive motor 122A, a low bill sensor 124, a dispenser output sensor 125, a reject output sensor 126 and a multiple bill detection sensor 127. Dispenser drive motor 122A receives AC power from an AC power source 122B by way of a relay 123, whenever the relay 123 is energized. The elements 121, 122 and 123 through 127 are respectively coupled through buffer/drivers 131 through 137 to the microprocessor 107 by way of its associated one of the PIAs 113, and 113₂. Buffer/drivers 131-137 are similar to buffer/drivers 101₁, 101₂, 103₁ and 103₂ shown in Fig. 4.

[0048] Signals from the sensors 124-127 indicate to the microprocessor 107 the status of these sensors. In response to a customer request for currency and to the status of signals from the sensors 124-127, the microprocessor 107 outputs signals to control the operations of the pick solenoid 121, reject flipper and solenoid 122 and dispenser drive motor 122A, as discussed below.

[0049] After receiving a customer request for bills, the microprocessor 107 sends a signal through buffer/driver 133 to energize the relay 123 to start the dispenser drive motor 122A. Then microprocessor 107 sends a signal to pick solenoid 121 to actuate the picking device (not shown) that picks a bill (not shown) from a bill hopper (not shown) and feeds it along a dispensing path (not shown) within the dispenser 13₁. As the picked bill enters the dispensing path, it goes through the multiple bill detection sensor 127, which determines if it is one or more bills. If a multiple bill is sensed by the sensor 127, the microprocessor 107 sends a signal to the reject flipper and solenoid 122 to energize a reject solenoid (not shown) to reposition a reject flipper (not shown) in order to reroute the double bill into a reject bin or hopper (not shown).

[0050] As soon as the multiple bill leaves the dispensing path and goes into the reject hopper, the reject output sensor 126 sends a signal to the microprocessor 107 to indicate that the multiple bill has been rejected. The microprocessor 107 then resets the reject flipper in reject flipper and solenoid 122 to its normal position and re-energizes the pick solenoid 121 to cause the picking device to pick and dispense another bill to take the place of the multiple bill. If that bill is a single bill, it will be passed through the dispensing path and through the dispenser output sensor 125 into an output tray (not shown). The dispenser output sensor 125 then sends a signal to the microprocessor 107 to indicate that the bill has been successfully outputted from the dispenser. Microprocessor 107 then counts that bill as being dispensed from the dispenser.

[0051] The above dispenser operation would be repeated until the dispenser has dispensed the requested amount of currency.

[0052] The low bill sensor 124 sends a signal to the microprocessor 107 when the bill hopper is low on bills. As a consequence of such a signal, the microprocessor 107 would take the dispenser out of service, preventing any more bills from being dispensed from that dispenser until the dispenser is restocked with bills of that denomination.

[0053] Each of the dispensers 13, and 13₂ has a similar operation for dispensing bills of a second denomination, as described in previously mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,179,031.

[0054] For a more detailed description of the step-by- step sequence involved in the operation of the fail safe document dispensing system disclosed in Figs. 1-5, reference is now made to Figs. 6-14. These figures show the essential operational steps that are involved after a customer at output station 21₂ has entered his credit card and ID number and made a currency request. As indicated previously, these operational steps are controlled by the microprocessor 107 during the execution of the software program that is extracted from the ROM 109. It should, of course, be realized that similar operational steps would be involved for a customer at output station 21, making a currency request.

[0055] Since a currency request was initially made at output station 21₂, the fail safe dispensing system first tries to dispense a bill from dispenser 13₂ and send it to output station 21₂. As a result, the microprocessor 107 first checks to see if dispenser 13₂ is operational. If it is known to be bad from a previous dispensing operation, the program would move to node A and try to dispense a bill from dispenser 13, to output station 21₂.

[0056] If dispenser 13₂ is still operational, low bill sensor 124 (Fig. 5) would be checked to find out if dispenser 13₂ has enough bills. If there are not enough bills in dispenser 13₂, a low currency failure would be flagged or logged for dispenser 13₂ and the program would move to node A to try to dispense a bill from dispenser 13, to output station 21₂.

[0057] If dispenser 13₂ is operational and contains enough bills, the system starts an operation to dispense a bill from dispenser 13₂ to output station 21₂. The first thing the system does is to set the flippers 15, and 15₂ in their proper positions to enable a bill from dispenser 13₂ to pass through the transport mechanism 12 to output station 21₂. First, solenoid 37₂ is de-energized. This should cause diverter 15₂ to be in its CW position. Flipper position sensor 17₂ is tested to see if flipper 15₂ is in its CW position. If flipper 15₂ is not in its CW position, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the program moves to exit Z to terminate the system operation.

[0058] If diverter 15₂ is in its CW position, solenoid 37₁ is de-energized to cause flipper 15, to be in its CCW position. Flipper position sensor 17, is then tested to see if flipper 15, is in its CCW position. If flipper 15, is not in its CCW position, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the program moves to exit Z to terminate the system operation.

[0059] If both of flippers 15, and 15₂ are in their proper de-energized positions, the dispenser 13₂ drive motor 122A (Fig. 5) and the transport drive motor 75 (Fig. 1) are both turned on and allowed to reach stable speeds.

[0060] The next routine is to pick a single bill in the dispenser 13₂. The pick solenoid 121 (Fig. 5) is energized to cause a bill picker (not shown) to pick a bill from a bill hopper inside of the dispenser 13₂. After a bill is picked, it is checked by the multiple bill detection sensor 127 (Fig. 5) to see if two or more bills were simultaneously picked. If sensor 127 indicates a multiple bill, the reject diverter and solenoid unit 122 (Fig. 5) is set to automatically detour the multiple bill to a reject hopper (not shown). Then the flipper and solenoid unit 122 is reset. In this manner, each multiple bill is rejected, while each single bill is passed. After a single bill has been picked, the next routine is to move that picked bill from the bill picker to the dispenser 13₂ output.

[0061] Whenever a single bill is picked and not rejected, the operation moves to node E at which time the multiple bill detection sensor 127 signals the microprocessor 107 to start a dispenser jam timer in the software program from the ROM 109. The time length of the dispenser jam timer is fixed since it is known how long it takes a bill to be moved past the output sensor 125 (Fig. 5) of dispenser 13₂ after the bill is picked and not rejected.

[0062] After the dispenser jam timer is started, the microprocessor 107 waits to see if a bill moves past the output sensor 125 of the dispenser 13₂ before the dispenser jam timer expires. If the dispenser jam timer expires before a bill is outputted, this means that the bill is jammed inside the dispenser 13₂. In this case, a dispenser 13₂ failure is logged, the transport drive motor 75 and the dispenser 13₂ drive motor are both turned off, and the program moves to node A to try to dispense a bill from dispenser 13₁ to output station 21₂.

[0063] If the bill is picked properly and is moved past the output sensor 125 of the dispenser 13₂ before the dispenser jam timer expires, the next routine is to move that bill from the output of the dispenser 13₂ through the transport mechanism 12 to the stacker wheel 25₂ at output station 21₂.

[0064] Each bill that exits from the dispenser 13₂ causes the output sensor 125 of dispenser 13₂ to signal the microprocessor 107 to start a fail safe jam timer in the software program from the ROM 109. The duratibn of the fail safe jam timer is fixed since the distance from the dispenser 13₂ to the stacker wheel 25₂ and the surface speed of the transport mechanism 12 are both known.

[0065] After the fail safe jam timer is started the microprocessor 107 waits to see if a bill moves past output sensor 19₂ (Fig. 1) before the fail safe jam timer expires. If the bill doesn't reach the output sensor 19₂ before the fail safe jam timer expires, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged. Because such a failure is very critical, the program then moves to exit Y to terminate the entire system operation.

[0066] If a bill is detected by the output sensor 19₂ before the fail safe jam timer expires, and is thus delivered to the stacker wheel 25₂ of output station 21₂, the operation is finished for the dispensing of that bill. In such a case, the microprocessor 107 decrements the customer-requested number of bills by one and decides whether or not any more bills have to be dispensed by the dispenser 13₂. If more bills have to be dispensed, the program goes back into the loop at nodes S and repeats the steps shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 for each additional bill that has to be dispensed. When the total number of requested bills has been dispensed from dispenser 13₂ to output station 21₂, the dispensing operation is complete and the program moves to exit Y to terminate the entire system operation. At exit Y all of the motors are turned off, the flipper solenoids are deenergized and everything is powered down to prevent any waste of power.

[0067] In relation to Figs. 6 and 8 is was mentioned that if anything went wrong in trying to dispense a bill from dispenser 13₂, the routine would branch to node A and attempt to dispense a bill from dispenser 13, to output station 21₂. Routine A will now be examined.

[0068] The operational steps involved from routine A on, as shown in Figs. 10-13, are similar to the previously discussed operational steps shown in Figs. 6-9. At the start of routine A, all of the motors have been turned off and the flipper solenoids 37, and 37₂ are in their de-energized states.

[0069] The microprocessor 107 first checks to see if dispenser 13, is operational. If it is known to be bad from a previous dispensing operation, the program would log a failure for both of dispensers 13, and 13₂ and move to exit Z to terminate the system operation because neither dispenser is operative.

[0070] If dispenser 13₁ is still operational, microprocessor 107 checks the low bill sensor 124 (Fig. 5) to find out if dispenser 13, has enough bills. If there are not enough bills in dispenser 13₁, a low currency failure would be logged for dispenser 13, and the program would move to exit Z to terminate the system operation because neither dispenser is operative.

[0071] Since the initial currency request was made at output station 21₂ and dispenser 13₂ is inoperative, the fail safe system will try to move a bill from dispenser 13₁ to output station 21₂. Because the dispenser 13, of ATM 11₁ will be used to supply currency to the output station 21₂ of ATM 11₂, the flippers 15, and 15₂ may have to be in different positions. Consequently, the microprocessor 107 will de-energize solenoid 37₂ to move flipper 15₂ to its CW position and then test flipper position sensor 17₂ to see if flipper 15₂ is CW. Next, the microprocessor 107 will energize solenoid 37, to move flipper 15, to its CW position and then test flipper position sensor 17₁ to see if flipper 15, is CW. If either of the flippers 15, and 15₂ is not in its CW position, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the program moves to exit Z to terminate the fail safe system operation.

[0072] If both of flippers 15₁ and 15₂ are in their CW positions, the drive motor 122A (Fig. 5) of the dispenser 13, and the transport drive motor 75 (Fig. 1) are turned on and allowed to reach stable speeds. Then a bill is picked by a bill picker (not shown) from a hopper inside of the dispenser 13₁ by energizing the pick solenoid 121 (Fig. 5) in that dispenser 13₁. After the bill is picked it is checked by the multiple bill detection sensor 127 (Fig. 5) in dispenser 13₁ to see if two or more bills were simultaneously picked. If a multiple bill is detected, the reject flipper and solenoid unit 122 (Fig. 5) of dispenser 13₁ is set to automatically detour the multiple bill to a reject hopper (not shown) in dispenser 13₁. Then the reject flipper and solenoid unit 122 is reset to its normal position.

[0073] Another bill is picked and tested for a multiple bill. If another multiple bill is detected, it is rejected in the same manner discussed above. If a single bill is picked and no multiple bill is detected, the operation moves to node G where a dispenser jam timer is started in the software program from the ROM 109 as the bill is moved from the multiple bill detection sensor 127 toward the output sensor 125 of the dispenser 13₁. If the dispenser jam timer expires before a bill passes the output sensor 125 of dispenser 13₁, a dispenser 13, failure is logged ant the program moves to exit Y to terminate the entire system operation.

[0074] It should be noted that the expiration of the jam timers for both of the dispensers 13₂ and 13₁ produces different system operations. If the jam timer initially fails for dispenser 13₂, dispenser 13₁ can be tried. However, if there is also a jam in dispenser 13₁, there is no other dispenser to try and the system operation must be terminated. Although, this was the operation that was described above, is should be realized that fail safe systems utilizing three or more ATMs could be implemented within the purview of this invention.

[0075] If the bill is picked properly and is moved past the output sensor 125 of dispenser 13, before the dispenser jam timer expires, the next routine is to move that bill from the output of the dispenser 13, through the transport mechanism 12 to the stacker wheel 25₂ at output station 21₂.

[0076] Each bill that exits from the dispenser 13, causes the output sensor 125 of dispenser 13, to signal the microprocessor 107 to start the fail safe jam timer in the software program from the ROM 109. The duration of the fail safe jam timer is fixed by the surface speed of the transport mechanism 12 and the longer of the two distances from the dispensers 13₁ and 13₂ to the stacker wheel 25₂ of the output station 21₂.

[0077] If the fail safe jam timer expires before the bill from dispenser 13₁ reaches stacker wheel 25₂, this means that the bill has become jammed in the transport mechanism 12. In such a case, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the program then moves to exit Y to terminate the entire system operation.

[0078] If the bill is detected by the output sensor 19₂ before the fail safe jam timer expires, and is thus delivered to the stacker wheel 25₂ of output station 21₂, the operation is finished for the dispensing of that bill. The microprocessor 107 then decrements the customer-requested number of bills by one and decides whether or not any more bills have to be dispensed by dispenser 13₁. If more bills have to be dispensed, the program goes back into the loop at node J and repeats the steps shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 for each additional bill that has to be dispensed. When the total number of requested bills has been dispensed from dispenser 13₁ to output station 21₂, the dispensing operation is complete and the program moves to exit Y to terminate the entire system operation.

[0079] Fig. 14 illustrates the operational steps involved in exits Y and Z. At exit Y, the transport drive motor 75 and the drive motors of dispensers 13, and 13₂ are all turned off. Since none of these motors were on at exit Z, exit Z enters the operation at this time. Then the flipper solenoids 37₁ and 37₂ are de-energized. In this manner the fail safe system is set to an idle state to conserve power. As a convenience, a status bit is then set to indicate whether or not the dispensing operation was successfully completed. The system operation is then ended.

[0080] The invention thus provides a system for automatically and mutually sharing the currency dispensers in adjacent ATMs when one dispenser is either out of service because of a malfunction or out of currency.

Claims

1. A document dispensing system including first and second dispensing means (13₁, 13₂) for sequentially dispensing documents (42) therefrom, first and second output stations (21₁, 21₂), transport means (12) for conveying documents from said first dispensing means (13,) into a first path to said first output station (21,) and documents from said second dispensing means (13₂) into a second path to said second output station (21₂), first diverter means (15,) selectively settable in operation to a first position in which it guides documents dispensed by said first dispensing means to said first output station or to a second position in which it diverts documents in said first path to said second output station, and second diverter means (15₂) selectively settable in operation to a first position in which it guides documents dispensed by said second dispensing means to said second output station or to a second position in which it diverts documents in said second path to said first output station, characterized in that said first dispensing means (13,) is responsive to a first signal for either sequentially dispensing documents (42) therefrom or for generating a second signal when no documents are being dispensed therefrom, said second dispensing means (13₂) is responsive to a third signal for either sequentially dispensing documents therefrom or for generating a fourth signal when no documents are being dispensed therefrom, said first diverter means (15,) is arranged to be set to its said second position in response to a fifth signal, and said second diverter means (15₂) is arranged to be set to its said second position in response to a sixth signal, and further characterized by control means (107) responsive to a said second signal for producing said third and sixth signals and responsive to a said fourth signal for producing said first and fifth signals.

2. A document dispensing system according to claim 1, characterized in that said transport means (12) is arranged to convey documents from said second dispensing means (13₂) to said first output station (21,) via said first diverter means (15,) set to said first position and via said second diverter means (15₂) set to said second position.

3. A document dispensing system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said transport means (12) includes a plurality of drive rollers (e. g. 50) arranged to cooperate with a plurality of follower rollers (e. g. 60) to convey documents from a selected one of said first and second dispensing means (13₁, 13₂) to a selected one of said output stations (21₁, 21₂), said drive rollers having different diameters and being arranged to be driven at different speeds, whereby in operation said transport means feeds documents therethrough at a substantially constant speed.

4. A document dispensing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second dispensing means (13₁, 13₂) respectively include first and second sensors (125) each arranged to detect a document (42) dispensed by the respective dispensing means, said first dispensing means (13) being arranged to generate the said second signal if said first sensor does not detect a document within a certain time after said first dispensing means receives the said first signal, and said second dispensing means (13₂) being arranged to generate the said fourth signal if said second sensor does not detect a document within a certain time after said second dispensing means receives the said third signal.

5. A document dispensing system according to claim 4, characterized by a third sensor (17₁) arranged to sense the position of said first diverter means (15₁), and a fourth sensor (17₂) arranged to sense the position of said second diverter means (15₂).

Ansprüche

1. Belegausgabesystem mit einer ersten und zweiten Ausgabevorrichtung (13₁, 13₂) zum aufeinanderfolgenden Ausgeben von Belegen (42) daraus, mit einer ersten und zweiten Ausgabestation (21₁, 21₂) mit einer Transportvorrichtung (12) zum Fördern von Belegen von der ersten Ausgabevorrichtung (13₁) in eine erste Bahn zu der ersten Ausgabestation (21,) und von Belegen von der zweiten Ausgabevorrichtung (13₂) in eine zweite Bahn zu der zweiten Ausgabestation (21₂), mit einer ersten Ablenkvorrichtung (15₁), die im Betrieb wahlweise in eine erste Position einstellbar ist, in der sie durch die erste Ausgabevorrichtung ausgegebene Belege zu der ersten Ausgabestation leitet oder in eine zweite Position, in der sie Belege in der ersten Bahn zu der zweiten Ausgabestation ablenkt, und mit einer zweiten Ablenkvorrichtung (15₂), die im Betrieb selektiv in eine erste Position einstellbar ist, in der sie von der zweiten Ausgabevorrichtung ausgegebene Belege zu der zweiten Ausgabestation leitet, oder in eine zweite Position in der sie Belege in der zweiten Bahn zu der ersten Ausgabestation ablenkt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste Ausgabevorrichtung (13₁) auf ein erstes Signal anspricht, um entweder aufeinanderfolgend Belege daraus abzugeben oder ein zweites Signal zu erzeugen, wenn keine Belege daraus abgegeben werden, daß die zweite Ausgabevorrichtung (13₂) auf ein drittes Signal anspricht, um entweder aufeinanderfolgend Belege daraus abzugeben oder ein viertes Signal zu erzeugen, wenn keine Belege daraus abgegeben werden, daß die erste Ablenkvorrichtung (15₁) angeordnet ist, um auf ihre zweite Position unter Ansprechen auf ein fünftes Signal eingestellt zu werden und daß die zweite Ablenkvorrichtung (15₂) angeordnet ist unter Ansprechen auf ein sechstes Signal in ihre zweite Position eingestellt zu werden, und ferner gekennzeichnet durch eine Steuervorrichtung (107), die auf ein zweites Signal zum Erzeugen des dritten und sechsten Signals und auf ein viertes Signal zum Erzeugen des ersten und fünften Signals anspricht.

2. Belegausgabesystem nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Transportvorrichtung (12) angeordnet ist, um Belege von der zweiten Ausgabevorrichtung (13₂) durch die in der ersten Position eingestellte erste Ablenkvorrichtung (15₁) oder durch die in der zweiten Position eingestellte zweite Ablenkvorrichtung zu der ersten Ausgabestation (21₁) zu fördern.

3. Belegausgabesystem nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Transportvorrichtung (12) mehrere Antriebsrollen (z. B. 50) aufweist, die angeordnet sind, um mit mehreren Gegenrollen (z. B. 60) zusammenzuarbeiten und Belege von einer gewählten der ersten und zweiten Ausgabevorrichtung (13₁, 13₂) zu einer gewählten Ausgabestation (21₁, 21₂) zu fördern, wobei die Antriebsrollen unterschiedliche Durchmesser besitzen und angeordnet sind, um mit unterschiedlichen Geschwindigkeiten angetrieben zu werden, so daß die Transportvorrichtung in Betrieb Belege mit einer im wesentlichen konstanten Geschwindigkeit hindurchfördert.

4. Belegausgabesystem nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die erste und zweite Ausgabevorrichtung (13₁, 13₂) einen ersten bzw. zweiten Sensor (125) aufweist, die jeweils angeordnet sind, um einen von der entsprechenden Ausgabevorrichtung ausgegebenen Beleg (42) festzustellen, wobei die erste Ausgabevorrichtung (13₁) angeordnet ist, um das zweite Signal zu erzeugen, wenn der erste Sensor innerhalb einer vorbestimmten Zeit nach Empfang des ersten Signals von der ersten Ausgabevorrichtung keinen Beleg feststellt und daß die zweite Ausgabevorrichtung (13₂) angeordnet ist, das vierte Signal zu erzeugen, wenn der zweite Sensor innerhalb einer bestimmten Zeit nach Empfang des dritten Signals durch die zweite Ausgabevorrichtung keinen Beleg feststellt.

5. Belegausgabesystem nach Anspruch 4, gekennzeichnet durch einen dritten Senor (17₁), der angeordnet ist, um die Position der ersten Ablenkvorrichtung (15₁) festzustellen und einen vierten Sensor (17₂), der angeordnet ist, um die Position der zweiten Ablenkvorrichtung (15₂) festzustellen.

Revendications

1. Système de distribution de documents comprenant des premiers et seconds moyens de distribution (13₁, 13₂) destinés à distribuer séquentiellement des documents (42), des premier et second postes de sortie (21₁, 21₂), des moyens de transport (12) destinés à transporter des documents desdits premiers moyens de distribution (13,) sur un premier trajet vers ledit premier poste de sortie (21,) et des documents desdits seconds moyens de distribution (13₂) sur un second trajet vers ledit second poste de sortie (21₂), des premiers moyens de déviation (15,) pouvant être mis en oeuvre sélectivement dans une première position dans laquelle ils guident des documents distribués par lesdits premiers moyens de distribution vers ledit premier poste de sortie, ou dans une seconde position dans laquelle ils dévient des documents sur ledit premier trajet vers ledit second poste de sortie, et des seconds moyens de déviation (15₂) pouvant être mis en oeuvre sélectivement dans une première position dans laquelle ils guident des documents distribués par lesdits seconds moyens de distribution vers ledit second poste de sortie, ou dans une seconde position dans laquelle ils dévient des documents sur ledit second trajet vers ledit premier poste de sortie, caractérisé en ce que lesdits premiers moyens de distribution (13,) réagissent à un premier signal pour soit distribuer séquentiellement des documents (42), soit pour générer un second signal lorsqu'ils ne distribuent aucun document, lesdits seconds moyens de distribution (13₂) réagissent à un troisième signal soit pour distribuer séquentiellement des documents, soit pour générer un quatrième signal lorsqu'ils ne distribuent aucun document, lesdits premiers moyens de déviation (15,) sont agencés pour être placés en leur seconde position en réponse à un cinquième signal, et lesdits seconds moyens de déviation (15₂) sont agencés pour être placés dans leur seconde position en réponse à un sixième signal, et en outre caractérisé par des moyens de commande (107) qui, en réponse audit second signal, produisent lesdits troisième et sixième signaux et, en réponse audit quatrième signal, produisent lesdits premier et cinquième signaux.

2. Système de distribution de documents selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de transport (12) sont agencés de façon à transporter des documents desdits seconds moyens de distribution (13₂) vers ledit premier poste de sortie (21,) par lesdits premiers moyens de déviation (15,) mis en oeuvre dans ladite première position ou par lesdits seconds moyens de déviation mis en oeuvre dans ladite seconde position.

3. Système de distribution de documents selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de transport (12) comprennent plusieurs rouleaux d'entraînement (par exemple 50) agencés de façon à coopérer avec plusieurs rouleaux suiveurs (par exemple 60) pour transporter les documents de l'un, choisi, desdits premiers et seconds moyens de distribution (13₁, 13₂) vers l'un, choisi, desdits postes de sortie (21₁, 21₂), lesdits rouleaux d'entraînement ayant des diamètres différents et étant agencés de façon à être entraînés à des vitesses différentes. afin que, en fonctionnement, lesdits moyens de transport fassent avancer les documents à travers eux à une vitesse sensiblement constante.

4. Système de distribution de documents selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdits premiers et seconds moyens de distribution (13₁, 13₂) comprennent respectivement des premier et second capteurs (125) disposés chacun de façon à détecter un document (42) distribué par les moyens de distribution respectifs, lesdits premiers moyens de distribution (13₁) étant agencés de façon à générer ledit second signal si ledit premier capteur ne détecte pas de document en un certain temps après que lesdits premiers moyens de distribution ont reçu ledit premier signal, et lesdits seconds moyens de distribution (13₂) étant agencés de façon à générer ledit quatrième signal si ledit second capteur ne détecte pas de document en un certain temps après que lesdits seconds moyens de distribution ont reçu ledit troisième signal.

5. Système de distribution de documents selon la revendication 4, caractérisé par un troisième capteur (17₁) agencé de façon à détecter la position desdits premiers moyens de déviation (15₁), et un quatrième capteur (17₂) agencé de façon à détecter la position desdits seconds moyens de déviation (15₂).

Drawing